Unexpected Rise in Nuclear Collectivity from Short-Range Physics

TL;DR

This paper reveals a surprising connection between short-range nucleon-nucleon interactions and collective nuclear motion, challenging the traditional view that such collectivity is solely driven by long-range correlations.

Contribution

It demonstrates that short-range $S$-wave contact couplings significantly influence quadrupole collectivity in light nuclei, providing new insights into nuclear emergent phenomena.

Findings

Quadrupole collectivity in $^6$Li and $^{12}$C is affected by short-range interactions.

Short-range couplings subtly modify surface oscillations without altering overall nuclear shape.

Results link short-distance nucleon interactions to emergent nuclear collective behavior.

Abstract

We discover a surprising relation between the collective motion of nucleons within atomic nuclei, traditionally understood to be driven by long-range correlations, and short-range nucleon-nucleon interactions. Specifically, we find that quadrupole collectivity in low-lying states of $^6$Li and $^{12}$C, calculated with state-of-the-art ab initio techniques, is significantly influenced by two opposing $S$-wave contact couplings that subtly alter the surface oscillations of one largely deformed nuclear shape, without changing that shape's overall contribution within the nucleus. The results offer new insights into the nature of emergent nuclear collectivity and its link to the underlying nucleon-nucleon interaction at short distances.